Illuminating Corruption Pathways: Modifying the FCPA's "Grease Payment" Exception to Galvanize Anti-Corruption Movements in Developing Nations

Authors

• Ivan Perkins, Bragg & Kuluva

Abstract

The article argues that the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) should be modified to require companies to report "grease payments," small bribes intended to expedite routine government actions. This change aims to enhance transparency, align U.S. law with stricter international standards, and combat corruption more effectively. The proposal suggests that mandating disclosure of such payments to the Department of Justice (DOJ), which would then publish the information online, would help activists, journalists, and foreign governments identify and address corruption. While the article acknowledges potential challenges, such as companies circumventing reporting or facing reputational risks, it emphasizes the long-term benefits of transparency in reducing corruption and its broader implications for national security and global governance.

Disciplines

Comparative and Foreign Law | Criminal Law | Criminal Procedure | International Trade Law | Law | Securities Law

Recommended Citation

Ivan Perkins, Illuminating Corruption Pathways: Modifying the FCPA's "Grease Payment" Exception to Galvanize Anti-Corruption Movements in Developing Nations, 21 Cardozo J. Int'l & Comp. L. 325 (2013).
Available at: https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/cjicl/vol21/iss2/3